Most Handsome Bolt Action Hunting Rifle?

[Texas Star]

Which bolt action HUNTING rifle from a major factory do you think is the best looking?

I'll vote for the Winchester/USRAC M-70 Fwt. Classic.

The std. M-70 also looks quite good, especially in Super Grade. I like black forearm tips.

I guess we can include the Dakota, although they're of pretty limited production.

I also like the old Mannlicher-Schoenauer rifles and carbines and the Mauser sporting model called the English model. Model A? Looked like a London made custom rifle, if not as fancy in the detailed work and figured wood. A lot were bought by European settlers in Africa who wanted a reliable rifle with good styling, but who couldn't afford a Rigby or H&H or Westley Richards.

I sort of like the Weatherby line, although I trust the M-70 and Mauser actions more.

What's your choice?

[thebeamanater107]

I'm not good with model numbers but I'm in love with green mountain laminate stocks. I could get on savage.com and find one of their many rifles that come with it, but I'll save the effort and tell you my thing.

I prefer lever action to bolt though. Dad's jc penny/marlin 30-30 has fired more rounds than the machine gun I carried in Iraq.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

[arjay]

A model 70 featherweight is on my list if I get serious about hunting again.

[sureshotbob]

I do love my Ruger model 77 RSI with it's Manlicher stock.

[bgrafsr]

I'm not sure which bolt action I like best, but I definitely know it does not have a full length Mannlicher stock, which I think are uglier than the Rhino or Governor..

[adluginb]

Remington Sendero.....

[gm272gs]

Weatherby Mark V Deluxe, in 7mm.

[Dutchs]

Originally Posted by thebeamanater107

I'm not good with model numbers but I'm in love with green mountain laminate stocks. I could get on savage.com and find one of their many rifles that come with it, but I'll save the effort and tell you my thing.

I prefer lever action to bolt though. Dad's jc penny/marlin 30-30 has fired more rounds than the machine gun I carried in Iraq.

the original point and click interface, by Smith and Wesson

Like this??0926132203a.jpg

[zzzippper]

Model 70 Featherweight

[illini24]

The Pre 64 Ml 70 bolt is one of the smoothest.

[THE PILGRIM]

Ruger no. 1. Classiest American factory rifle ever made!
Oops- you only want bolts. Pre 64 model 70.

[Kanewpadle]

Any Colt Sauer.

[sgt.207]

1. winchester model 70 featherweight
2. Ruger RSI

[model70hunter]

1. Winchester pre-64 Model 70. Sold all but 3, wife claims one.
2. Kimber Model 84, 7m-08, bought wife one, loved it, bought me one.
3. Weatherby MKV German made, yep big ole cheek piece and all. Sold all but 2.

All the above have distinct and handsome designs.

For me what also makes these guns exceptionally beautiful is the accuracy each displays.

[DR505]

Kimber makes a good looking rifle, but I like the Remington line-up best. The 700 is nice, but my personal favorite is:

Remington 673 Guide Rifle
I have one in .350 Remington Magnum and it knocks elk dead!

[Fishslayer]

As a lad I remember gazing with lust upon the Weatherbies.

[Hodgin]

I've got a Browning A-Bolt (walnut) my dad surprised me with right after I started deer hunting in the mid-60s. Haven't fired it since the late 70s but wouldn't trade it for any gun on the market.

[Evil Dog]

Real easy choice for me.... the old Mannlicher-Schoenauer full stock rifles.

[Vegetaman]

Always a fan of the German k98 Mauser.

[gaucho1]

[Texas Star]

Special thanks for photos!

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by Vegetaman

Always a fan of the German k98 Mauser.

This is a thread about factory made hunting rifles...

[Snapping Twig]

Two words...

Colt-Sauer

FTW!

I am fortunate to have two, one in .243 and the other in .300Wby.
Real royal blue from Colt, the action like ball bearings, stock of wood supplied by heaven. No other rifle I have ever seen has come close.

[s&wchad]

Colt Sauer rifles are handsome:


... as are Sako Finnbears:


It's hard to top a Weatherby if you want "flashy":


... but to my eye, Kimber's epitomize the classic rifle.


I'm sure my opinion will change if I ever snag a Dakota.

----------------------------------------------

I can't bring myself to take the above guns in the field, so most of my hunting is done with Remington 700's.

[walnutred]

Originally Posted by Evil Dog

Real easy choice for me.... the old Mannlicher-Schoenauer full stock rifles.

Years ago I a M-S half stock in 7x57. Had I ever learned to shoot right handed I'd probably still have it today.

[pownal55]

In the line up of current production rifles the Kimber Superamerica is hard to beat, classic lines and highly figured walnut is becoming a thing of the past unless you go custom.

[Donn]

A vote for the only turn bolt I own, a Springfield Model 1898 in 30-40 Krag.

[moosedog]

Can I have three favorites?

For my taste you just can't beat the Winchester model 70s, Remington 700s or the Ruger 77s in blue steel and wood for a out of the box gun.

[lawandorder]

What Gaucho said.

[jimmyj]

The most handsome rifles I ever observed were customized military rifles.
1. Enfield Model 1917 converted to 300 Winchester
2. Springfield Model 1903
3. Japanese Arisaka converted to .257 Roberts
4. SMLE
5. Mauser Model 1898
6. Krag Model 1898
These "GI" rifles had a LOT of craftsmanship and $$$ put into them by some real "Gun Artist".

[Raider]

The M1903 and M1950 Mannlicher full stock rifles. I own the 1903 in 6.5x54 and my wife has the 1950 is in 7x57.

Charlie

[Pondhill]

I think it's the Browning lever action.

[big&slow]

My Pre-64 Winchester Feather weight in 30.06
Large ring mod98 Oberndorf Mauser sporter.

[Rangerpat]

I'm partial to my 30 year-old Remington Model 700 BDL in .30-'06 not as pretty to look at as some of the above rifle photos but it's all I need.

[Old TexMex]

Texas Star, you pose a tough one. Is the most handsome the prettiest? A pre 64 m70 featherweight matte finished action to me is more handsome than a factory attempt at copying a custom.
The pre 64 m70 WAS a military rifle, both in the Pacific and Vietnam (Sgt. Hathcock)

[Texas Star]

Please keep in mind that lever actions and sporterized military rifles are not eligible.

[A10]

For pure beauty it's hard to beat the Holland and Holland bolt guns, but for classic lines and the true "everymans rifle" for me its a pre-64 Model 70, preferrably in 30-06.

[KSCowboy]

Win M-70 Classic Featherweight. 300 WSM for the big stuff & 25 WSSM for the medium stuff. Used the big 'un on a bull moose about 30 days ago, next week it's the 25's turn for Kansas white tails.

[jdlii]

Uglier than a Rhino or a Governor? I think not!

This is #2 Deer rifle, a Sako VIII in 30.06 with a Leupold VXIII, 1.5x5.
The #1 is a pre 64' Mod. 70 in the same caliber with a Leupold VXII, 3x9x50.

[Fishinfool]

I like my Kimbers..

Larry

[ACP230]

Ruger 77RL.
The older ones with the tang safety.
Good looks, the right weight for still hunting, and mine is in .250 Savage.

[gregintenn]

Nothing wrong with the Featherweight pre 64 Model 70 Winchester,

or the newer "Classic" Featherweight model 70,

but if you ever held a model 1920 Savage in your hands, you'll understand why it's my favorite bolt.

[greenmachine]

While I love my Remington 700 Classics, my pre-64's, and my early Ruger M77 in 7X57 (killed my first muley with this one), these are mostly utilitarian which is fine, but I have to vote for my Browning Mauser in .308 Win. In my opinion no bolt action rifle is sweeter than a Browning Mauser. And yes, the most handsome, especially in the Safari grade, without the unnecessary frills.

[chief38]

While I do not own a Big Game Bolt Action Rifle, if I were to buy one I'd probably get a Winchester M70 in 30-06. From the ones I have Smithed and shot they are quite respectable, smooth and accurate. What more could you want in a hunting rifle!?

I do not consider myself a real Big Game Hunter but I do have a Marlin 1895 in both 45-70 and 38-55 which are quite capable in their own right. Certainly NOT in the class of a fine Bolt Action Rifle, but like I said in the past I am mainly a Pheasant Hunter anyway.

[M29since14]

This is like asking who is the most beautiful woman when there are so many, each with her own special beauty. Although I like the looks of a lot of rifles and admire their various mechanical features, I don't know of any factory rifle at a decent price that draws looks and features all together much better than the current Super Grade Model 70. I don't need one but came awfully close to buying one in .300 Magnum a few days ago. However, for my own peculiar tastes, if Weatherby was still making their Mark V "Euromark" it would probably get my vote for an off-the-shelf rifle. I really liked that one.

Different as those two rifles may be in terms of style and mechanics, those two would get my votes.

[wbraswell]

I agree with Texas Star, that's why I have one. I also love the look of the Remington 700 Mountain Rifle, in blue and walnut. No synthetics, laminated, or stainless for me. We are talking about looks, here.

[Harrison]

A toss up between the Ruger Mdl 77, and the later model Winchester Mdl 70 featherweight.

[Salty RI]

In 1967 I bought a Mannlicher Schoenauer in 30-06 with double set triggers and a tiger maple stock, best looking gun I've seen to this day. I bought it used, it didn't have a mark on it.

[JamesArthur60]

Any bolt action stamped CZ.

[rburg]

Browning just about has the nice wood market locked up. I have no reason that I can imagine why other companies use scrap lumber off their pallets to fabricate gunstocks.

But my favorite Browning by a wide margin is the 1776-1976 presentation model. They made a few thousand and every one has great wood. Not just nice, but great. The one I bought has the nicest factory wood I've ever seen. Every so often I pull it out to just admire it.

I have a couple of prewar M70s and while I really like them, they used straight grain walnut. No rifle wearing that will win a beauty contest.